Commonwealth Games 2018, Gold Coast: Ashwini Ponnappa-N Sikki Reddy reach badminton women's doubles semis

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Gold Coast: India's Ashwini Ponnappa and N.Sikki Reddy entered the semi-finals of badminton women's doubles at the 21st Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast here on Friday.

Ashwini and Sikki, the lone Indian pair in the quarters, comfortably thrashed the Sri Lankan pair of Hasini Ambalangodage and Madushika Dilrukshi Beruwelage 21-11, 21-13 in a match that lasted merely 26 minutes.

The Sri Lankan pair failed to put up a challenge to the Indians, who had no troubles in either game.

In the semi-final on Saturday, Ashwini and Sikki will take on the winner between the English pair of Chloe Birch and Jessica Pugh, and Malaysians Mei Kuan Chow and Vivian Hoo.

Indian Medal Winners on Day 9 

Anish Bhanala

Indian shooter Anish Bhanala created history by becoming the country's youngest ever gold medal winner at the Commonwealth Games. The teenager from Haryana achieved the feat when he stormed his way into the Gold medal with a Games record in the men's 25m rapid fire pistol event at the Belmont Shooting Centre.

Anish shot down the CWG record in the final with a score of 30 including four series of 5 each. The youngest in the field, he showed nerves of steel and led the more experienced shooters through the event to emerge deserving champion. Australia's Sergei Evglevski claimed the Silver with 28, while the Bronze medal went to Sam Gowin (17) of England. 

By winning the Gold, Anish bettered team-mate Manu Bhaker, who had become the youngest Indian Commonwealth Games gold medallist earlier this week when she emerged champion in the 10m air rifle finals.  In the Qualifications, Anish scored 580 to finish top of the tally while Neeraj was second best with 579. Anish scored 286 in stage 1 and 294 in stage 2 qualifying, while Neeraj had 291 in stage 1 and 288 in stage 2.

Tejaswini Sawant

Indian shooter Tejaswini Sawant on Friday bagged a Gold in women's 50m Rifle 3 final at the 21st Commonwealth Games in Australia's Gold Coast. The seasoned Tejaswini Sawant shattered the games record en route to winning the Gold medal. In a 1-2 finish for India, the 37-year-old Tejaswini shot a CWG record 457.9 in the event's finals at the Belmont Shooting Centre.

Scotland's Seonaid Mcintosh won bronze 444.6. This is the seventh CWG medal for Tejaswini, following two golds in 2006, a pair of silvers and a bronze in 2010 and as silver in women's 50m rifle prone in the ongoing edition yesterday. Tejaswini shot 582 (194, 196, 192) to finish third in qualifying.

The Kolhapur-born Tejaswini had earlier equalled the world record after winning gold in the Munich World Championships in 2010 in the 50m rifle prone. 

Anjum Moudgil 

On the other hand, another Indian shooter Anjum Moudgil bagged a Silver in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions event, as Indian shooters set the stage ablaze in the 21st Commonwealth Games.

The 24-year-old Moudgil has tasted her first success in these Games while making her maiden appearance.

In the qualification, Moudgil had shattered the CWG Qualifying record by a significant margin. Her 589 (196 in kneeling, 199 in prone and 194 in standing) ensures she finished at the top in qualifying.